Dem.—At the points D, E make the angles EDG, DEG equal to the angles A, B of the triangle ABC. Then [I. xxxii.] the triangles ABC, DEG are equiangular.
| Therefore | BA : AC | :: ED : DG [iv.]; | |||||
| but | BA : AC | :: ED : DF (hyp.). |
Therefore DG is equal to DF. In like manner it may be proved that EG is equal to EF. Hence the triangles EDF, EDG have the sides ED, DF in one equal to the sides ED, DG in the other, and the base EF equal to the base EG. Hence [I. viii.] they are equiangular; but the triangle DEG is equiangular to ABC. Therefore the triangle DEF is equiangular to ABC.
Observation.—In VI. Def. i. two conditions are laid down as necessary for the similitude of rectilineal figures. 1. The equality of angles; 2. The proportionality of sides. Now, from Propositions iv. and v., we see that if two triangles possess either condition, they also possess the other. Triangles are unique in this respect. In all other rectilineal figures one of the conditions may exist without the other. Thus, two quadrilaterals may have their sides proportional without having equal angles, or vice versâ.
PROP. VI.—Theorem.
If two triangles (ABC, DEF) have one angle (A) in one equal to one angle (D) in the other, and the sides about these angles proportional (BA : AC :: ED : DF), the triangles are equiangular, and have those angles equal which are opposite to the homologous sides.
Dem.—Make the same construction as in the last Proposition; then the triangles ABC, DEG are equiangular.
| Therefore | BA : AC | :: ED : DG [iv.]; | |||||||||
| but | BA : AC | :: ED : DF (hyp.). |
Therefore DG is equal to DF. Again, because the angle EDG is equal to BAC (const.), and BAC equal to EDF (hyp.), the angle EDG is equal to EDF; and it has been proved that DG is equal to DF, and DE is common; hence the triangles EDG and EDF are equiangular; but EDG is equiangular to BAC. Therefore EDF is equiangular to BAC.